A series of events telling the untold stories of Britain’s black ballet dancers are set to take place in Washington.
The first event, Island Movements, is coming to Arts Centre Washington next month. It is a short ballet that tells the story of Windrush and explores the impact of this generation’s experiences on their families, communities and society.
This will be followed in February 2025 by the touring exhibition Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet, which will bring together archive photography, film, newspaper articles and posters alongside new video and audio interviews to trace the history of black British ballet from the 1940s to the present day.
In the 1970s black British dancers were often told they would not be hired because of the colour of their skin. And despite a number of schemes in the following decades to help children from diverse backgrounds access ballet training, Oxygen Arts estimates that less than 3% of dancers currently employed in the biggest three ballet companies are from a Black British background.
The events are part of a series of workshops, events and activities across the city being delivered by Culture House Sunderland in the run up to the venue’s opening.
Cllr Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “It’s great to have these events taking place in Washington. Not only will they be brilliant events, but they will also shine a light on a hugely important topic.
“It is great that we have an array of brilliant cultural venues in the city that attract national touring productions.
“When it opens Culture House Sunderland will be a great addition to the city and I’m pleased that people are getting the chance to get a taste of what will be on offer when it opens.”
Culture House Sunderland: The National Centre for Creative Smart Cities will be a multi-purpose cultural venue based at the heart of Keel Square. The venue will be home to the City Library, and will be packed with dynamic, digitally powered, interactive and educating features, with a year-round programme of fun things to do and see.
The pre-opening programme will give communities a flavour of the type of activity they can expect when the building opens in autumn 2025.
Island Movements, which will be at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 17 October at 7pm, features original music and follows a young Caribbean soldier and his family in WW2 Britain through their life in the UK up to the current Windrush scandal.
Into the Light: Pioneers of Black British Ballet will be at Creative Smart Hub Washington throughout February 2025.
Both events are part of the Black British Ballet programme, an Arts Council England and Black Funding Network supported project that is touring arts venues and libraries around the country.
Tickets for Island Movements are free but must be booked in advance here https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/island-movements/
